Control mechanism



3nnentor April 7, 1942. s. MAYNER GONTFOL MECHANISM Filed March 16, 1959 Patented Apr. 7, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE coN'rnoL MECHANISM Stanley Mayner, Cleveland Heights, Ohio Application March is, 1939, Serial No. 262,193

4 Claims.

This invention relates to temperature regulating and controlling apparatus, more particularly to an apparatus for use in connection with heating plants employing a fluid heating medium. A more specific adaptation of my invention is in controlling the passage of the heating fluid to a radiating device and thus to regulate the temperature of a room, or compartment, to a desired control the position of a heating fluid admission valve.

It is still a further object to provide a temperature control apparatus that is readily applicable to various forms of heating systems.

These and further objects will be apparent from the drawing and description thereof.

Figure 1 represents a partially cut-away crosssection of my invention.

Figure 2 is a cross-section of a part of a wall thermostat.

Figures 3 and 4 are admission and exhaust valves respectively.

Referring to Figure 1, I show therein a valve that is adapted to be connected to a source of heating fluid, as steam, or hot water or heated gases, and that has an outlet source that may lead to a radiator or similar device. Heating fluid will enter the valve casing I through its base as indicated, pass through the opening between the valve 2 and its seat 3 and out into a radiator or similar device (not shown). Upon entering the valve casing some of the heating fluid will be diverted through a smaller attached by-pass valve 4, the valve therein being open, will continue through pipe 5 into a circular annular chamber 6.

The valve construction in by-pass 4 is more particularly shown in Figure 3. Heating fluid comes from within the main valve casing i into the by-pass valve chamber 8 through an opening 1, the valve 9 being open, thence upward through pipe 5 into chamber 6. I utilize concave compression spring leaves I attached to the gland nut II to hold the valve 9 either in an open or closed position by holding land 12 above or below the spring bearing surfaces. The'pressure of the heating fluid, as in a house, steam heating system, being usually very low seldom exceeding three pounds, I flnd that such spring leaves III are sufficient "in keeping valve 9 in a tightly closed position when so dictated.

The heating fluid entering the annular chamber 6, surrounding a bellows container I3, will force out air therefrom taken in during cooling, through pipe 14 and exhaust valve l5. The air exhausted, the heating fluid will cause a closure of the opening of the exhaust valve and thus prevent any further escape of the heating fluid. The exhaust valve is shown more particularly in Figure 4. It is a standard type of a radiator exhaust valve having a bottle-like container l6 having an inwardly indented base filled with a volatile fluid and resting on a spider l1. Heat surrounding the container 16 will cause the inside fluid to expand forcing out the base thus causing the closure of opening l8. With exhaust valve I closed the heating fluid will flll chamber 6 and .in turn heat the volatile fluid contained in chamber is, the chamber being formed by an outer fixed wall l3 and bellows 2|]. The expansion of this fluid will force the bellows 20 downwardly compressing spring 2| and shutting valve 2, thus preventing the admission of any more heating fluid to a radiator.

As the valve stem 22 is forced downwardly it also carries with it a member 23, fastened to it by means of set-screws 24. Member 23, through compression springs 25, 30 around pin 26, effects movementof associated member 21, to which 26 is rigidly flxed. Thus when arm 23 is caused to move downwardly it will force through spring 25 member 21 in the same direction and cause by-pass valve stem 28 to move downwardly by bearing against pin 29. Should the motion of valve stem 22 be upward then arm 23 would bear against compression spring 30 lifting member 21 and by-pass valve stem 28 by means of pin 3|, the valve stemv 28 moving through the member 21. The action of the by-pass valve is a snap action, the spring 10 either holding it down securely or leaving the valve open.

The compression sprlngs 25 and 30 are so arranged on pin 26 that merely one is compressed and in the direction of movement or further expansion. This arrangement avoids the use of any additional force but the movement of the valve stem in opening or shutting of valve 4.

To member 21, at one end, and rigidly fixed thereto is rod 31A joining said member to diaphragm 32. Rod 3IA moves through guides 42 I phere. The diaphragm serves to arrest the motion of rod 2IA actuated by valve 2, the valve motion being absorbed by springs 22 or 22. The

diaphragm position is in turn controlled by the thermostatic device 22, sensitive to temperature at some distant point as will be hereinafter explained. Thermostatic device 22 may be located wherever it is desired to control temperature and Joins with the diaphragm chamber 22 by means of capillary 22. The size of the capillary may be varied as well as of the thermostatic device 22'to get whatever sensitivity of the system desired.

Without'the diaphragm and device 22 control valve 2 and by-pass valve 2 would go into a fluttering cycle; for, a portion of the heating fluid flowing through valve casing I is diverted through the by-pass valve 2 into the heating chamber 2 at all times that the by-pass valve is open. Upon a heating of the expansible fluid in chamber l2 valve 2 would be forced closed and it would carry with it by-pass valve 2, then with the heating fluid shut off chamber l2 would cool allowing spring 2| to open valve 2 and with it valve 2. Thus without a control of the bypass valve the repeatedopening and closing would go on as long as heating fluid would be passing through the valve casing.

The thermostatic control as shown in Fig. 2 and remotely located of valve 2, controls the positioning of, or the holding of the by-pass valve in a desired open or closed position in accordance to the temperature controlled. The diaphragm chamber 22 is joined with the thermostatic control device 22 by means of a capillary 25. The device 22 consists of a cylindrical chamber 22 having inwardly projecting oppositely facing valve seats 22 and 2|. The chamber is threaded onto the capillary at one end and is i open to the atmosphere at the other. Positioned between the two seats 42, 2| is floating valve 21 adapted to flt against either seat very closely and preventing any exhausting of or taking in of atmosphere when seated against a proper seat. The position of the floating valve is in turn governed by a temperature sensitive element 22, diagrammaticaly shown, and to which is attached a connecting rod 22 having thereon valve 21.

Thus valve 21 is responsive to the temperature it is designed to control.

I have herein stated that valve 21 when seated against a particular seat prevents either the intake or air or its exhaust from the capillary 25 and diaphragm chamber 22. For example; when the diaphragm chamber is filled with atmosphere and floating valve 21 is positioned against seat 22 then any upward motion of valve 2 will not carry with it rod 2IA and diaphragm 22 for the entrapped air in the diaphragm chamber 22 and capillary 22 prevents such upward motion of the diaphragm, and the valve 2 motion is taken up by compressing spring 22, the by-pass valve 2 as a result, remains in its original position. Now, should the floating valve 21 be at the same seat 22 and diaphragm 22 in a raised position then a downward motion of valve 2 will carry with it rod MA and force by-pass valve permit air to be sucked in. Thus in the position of the floating valve .iust'described air can be taken in but not let out, but with the valve against seat 2| the reverse is true, air may be forced out but not let in.

The operation of my control mechanism is as follows: Suppose the controlled temperature becomes below-that desired and until then valve 2 was closed. The bv-paaa valve, until that moment, was held open supplying heating fluid to heating chamber 2 keeping valve 2 closed, the diaphragm 22 was upwardly held, spring 22 was compressed, and floating valve 21 was against seat 2|. The coolingof the controlled point then causes sensitive element 22 to contract and to place the floating valve 21 against seat 22 of chamber 22, permitting spring 22 to expand, snapping by-pass valve 2 into a closed position. As stated in the description of Fig. 2 it is possible to pull down the diaphragm for as it descends it sucks in atmosphere, the resilient element 22 permitting a sumcient displacement of valve 21, allowing the fllling of the entire system with air. Since no heating fluid is now permitted to chamber 2 the expansible fluid in the expansible chamber l2 contracts permitting the retractive spring 2| to open valve 2 allowing the flow of heating fluid to the controlled point. Meanwhile the position of element 22 will not change if not suflicient heat has been supplied to the point it represents, and floating valve 21 remains on seat 22. As main valve 2 hadrisen it attempted to carry with it the by-pass valve 2 but was prevented from doing so because such motion was resisted by the air fllled system above the diaphragm, the motion being absorbedby compression of spring 22. Heating fluid will then be continuously supplied to' the controlled point and none to the chamber 2. where if any were supplied thereto a closing of valve 2 would immediately occur.

When a 'suiilcient quantity of heating fluid had been supplied to the controlled point, element 22 will expand forcing the floating valve 21 away from seat .22 towards seat 2|, at once releasing the entrapped atmosphere which is forced out of the system by the expansion of spring 22 about pin 22 moving. rod 2IA and diaphragm 22 closed, by carrying with it the diaphragm 22.

This is possible for nothing obstructs the downward motion of the diaphragm as the temperature sensitive element 22 is resilient enough to element 22 remains in an expanded state the floating valve 21 will remain against seat 2| and diaphragm 22 cannot move downwardly to thereby close by-pass valve 2. And as main valve 2 being closed due to the expansion of the fluid in chamber I2 by-pass valve 2 will remain open due to the vacuum created in the system above the diaphragm upon exhaustion of the atmosphere therefrom. As long, then, as this condition exists heating fluid will be supplied chamber 2 and valve 2 thus kept closed. If, however, this condition should change due to a cooling ofl of the controlled point, element 22 will draw the floating valve away from seat 2i permitting atmosphere to enter into the system and allow, through the expansion of compressed spring 22, to shut the by-pass valve, thereby cooling chambers 2, l2 and opening main valve 2.

The. device of Fig. 2 can be made as sensitive as desired, the sensitivity being dependent upon its relative size. I have found that the smaller the device the greater its sensitivity. The motion of the floating valve is usually slight for the distance between the valve seats is very small. x

This distance essentially determines the degree of control desired, that is, the shorter this distance .the less movement of .the valve is necessary and therefore less change in the tem- .perature sensitive element.

In my'construction of. Figure 1, I have avoided the use of a threaded gland nut, althoughI couldhave used it, to retain the packing 11 about the Instead I prefer a construction erted: by the spring 2| in its normal position is suflicient to tightly compress the packing about stem 22 andthus avoids periodic adjustments.

'In the'illustration I have shown a thermostatic temperature control apparatus but it is evident from'the disclosure that I am not limited thereto, as an additional example, I may employ the actuating power of the bellows to position a regulating element as a damper, or I may use my device as a compressing means where great pressure may be desired. It is further apparent that my invention is capable of other uses and advantages not herein described; henceit will be appreciated that the disclosed embodiment is illustrative only.

I claim:

1. Temperature control mechanismof the character described comprising in combination, an expansible fluid operated regulating and controlling valve of aheating fluid supply, a heating chamber for the expansible fluid, a, by-pass conduit for by-passing a portion of the heating fluid to said heating chamber, a by-pass valve in said by-pass conduit and adapted to be actuated by said regulating and controlling valve, a thermostatic controlling means sensitive to variations in temperature and including a conduit system having a flexible walled chamber at one end and a two-way control valve at the other open to atmosphere, means connecting the flexible wall of said flexible walled chamber to the by-pass valve in the by-pass conduit whereby said flexible wall is actuated when said by-pass valve is moved, and said thermostatic controlling means adapted to control the position of said flexible wall and said by-pass valve.

2. Temperature control mechanism of the character described comprising in combination, an expansible fluid operated regulating and controlling valve of a heating fluid supply, a heating chamber for said expansible fluid, a by-pass conduit for by-passing a portion of the heating fluid to said heating chamber, a by-pass valve in said by-pass conduit and actuated by said regulating and controlling valve, a temperature sensitive element responsive to variations in temperature, a conduit system havinga two seat valve open to the atmosphere at one end and a flexible walled chamber at the other, a floating valve positioned between the seats of said twoseat valve and attached to said temperature sensitive element, means interconnecting said flexible wall with said by-pass valve, said means adapted through the actuation of said by-pass valve by the regulating and controlling valve to deflect said flexible wall thereby taking in or exhausting atmosphere from said conduit system, and saidtemperature sensitive element determining the presence or absence of atmosphere in the conduit system and thereby the position of the flexible wall and by-pass valve.

3. A temperature control system comprising in combination, an expansible fluid operated controlling and regulating valve of a heating fluid supply for controlling and regulating the temperature of an enclosed compartment, a heating chamber for said expansible fluid, a by-pass conduit by-passing a portion of the heating fluid to said heating chamber, a valve insaid byf-pass conduit and adapted to be actuated by said controlling and regulating valve, thermostatic means sensitive to variations in temperature of the controlled compartment and including a conduit system open to atmosphere at one end through a two-way control valve and having a flexible walled chamber at the other end, means connecting the flexible wall of ,said chamber to said by-pass valve, and said flexible wall adapted to restrain the movement of the .by-pass valve in a sense determined by the position of the two-way control valve and regulating the flow of heating fluid through the by-pass to the heating chamber.-

4. In a temperature control system including an expansible fluid operated controlling and regulating valve of a heating fluid supply having a -heating chamber for the expansible fluid and actuating a, by-pass valve in a by-pass conduit regulating the supply of said heating fluid to the heating chamber, and a thermostatic controlling means controlling said by-pass valve comprising, a temperature sensitive element, a two-way control valve open to atmosphere positioned by said temperature sensitive element, a conduit system havin;, a flexible walled chamber at'one end and the two-way control valve at the other, said conduit system admitting or exhausting atmosphere through the two-way valve when the flexible wall of the chamber is actuated, means inter-connecting the flexible wall to the by-pass valve and to the expansible fluid operated controlling and regulating valve, and said thermostatic controlling means desirably regulating the actuation of the by-pass valve and the flow of heating fluid to the heating chamber.

S I'ANLEY-MAYNER. 

